Thur, 13 Jan hummmm ... how can it be such perfect weather, and i wake up this morning to blowing wind and much cooler ? ....what is this...Michigan? i guess the weather is unpredictable everywhere. and, today was the day i was going to force myself to go for a swim/snorkel. i must admit this weather is much more conducive to working, and i continued to work. there is yet another area that has been patched and re-patched ... and a hazard as well, some of the wire stuck out and 'grabbed' you as you walked by, if you weren't careful. here is a before picture: and the after picture where i replaced the board and the mesh screen ... looks nice, huh? here are a couple of photos of the cats taking their afternoon nap. and the pelicans on Madi's dock.

11 Jan, Tues

11 Jan, Tues Jos stopped by with his cameraS and took a few photos of a couple of the cats, and left a donation for Madi. Every little bit helps. Once people come here and see the work (challenges) that Madi faces, they often want to help in some way. my maintenance duties are taking me forever coz we have few tools. i'm replacing latches, hooks, hinges, and screens on doors to the cat cages/rooms. no gloves, and my fingers are raw. plus i fell ice skating christmas eve and my wrist is pretty much useless.... hurts like hell when i try to use a hammer :) ...and forget about twisting it, as in using a screwdriver! poor me :) . and the wood that they have here is SO HARD that you can't get a screw into it without a pilot hole ...... and the drill (electric, with a long cord that is always somewhere else); doesn't even get through the stuff. i don't know what tree it comes from; when i ask, everyone just says it's 'hard wood' duhhhhhhhhhhhh ... do i sound like i am complaining? well, just a little. the things i am doing aren't that difficult and should only take a few minutes; but because of the above challenges, they end up taking hours. it is frustrating! before pic ... boards stuck every-which-way into the fence to keep cats in / or out .... and after pic of the same section of fencing ....all nice neat and tidy :) i've been working non stop since i got here, and have not even put my feet in the sea yet! do you feel sorry for me ?????????. but, after all of the above 'complaining' ... i am really happy here :) at dinner tonight, i am sitting on a balcony on one of the back streets of Caye Caulker drinking a new drink: rum and fresh ginger with a half of fresh lime squeezed and rubbed on the rim. and you're supposed to turn the glass around to keep drinking from the lime juice on the rim, ... this is high tech stuff !!!!!!!! it's good, not sweet nor sour, ...... just refreshing ! it's very quiet here on the back streets, no wild crazy drunk kids :)

12 Jan, Wed

12 Jan, Wed This morning i got to the Bakery in time to get some of their Ham and Cheese sandwiches, ... unusual, a little spicy, and very good. Madi hired a 'professional' carpenter/builder today to make 3 window frames and put double screens in them. Walter worked ALL DAY, did an excellent job, .... and charged her B$50 (US$25) ... what does that tell you ? i, on the other hand, continued my tasks in an effort to keep the cats from escaping from where the are supposed to be. tonight, i'm at a restaurant with Karoke :) "it's only words, and words are all i have....." about time to leave ... :) but, maybe one more drink .... and now some spanish song ... oh my .. ok .... what ???? Black Sabath ?????????? a girl with from San Fran with a bunch of "YOUNG KIDS" from around the world ... Black Sabath ?????????????? This island knows no generations barriers; an amazing collection of peoples of all life styles from all around the world. That's what makes it so unique. last night i woke up scratching my ankles and arms ... tonight i am slathering myself with pieces of an aloe plant that is outside my door. so much for keeping myself free from no-seem-ums !!!!!!!!! i really HATE this side-effect of the area ! i still wouldn't trade this for winters in Michigan :)

10 Jan, Mon

10 Jan, Monday up at 6:30 again, and continue my maintenance chores. i'll never be finished ... Madi keeps saying can 'WE' do this .......... ?????????? turn that 'W' upside down and you get 'ME' ! Many of the stores here, groceries and home supplies, and hardware are owned by people of Chinese decent. in fact, there is a China Town, which consists of a Hotel, Supermarket, and Hardware store. they are nice, but don't seem to be very friendly. but, the guy at the Hardware Store and i are becoming friends :) i'm not his biggest spender; but i am his most frequent customer, ... and probably his biggest pain in the neck! i go in an buy 4 hinges, or 3 hooks and eyes ... i think he's warming up to me ... or more likely, feels sorry for me, .... or thinks i'm weird! Weird ???????? why would anyone think someone dressed in this 'get-up' is weird? photo of me in my 'no-see-um' fashion statement .. holding my 'tool box' . Dinner time again. after walking the length of the north end of the island, i ate at the Happy Lobster. No, did not have lobster. i haven't eaten Lobster yet ... not sure why. it's everywhere, i guess maybe i'm 'saving it' ... you know, like that nice candle that you are waiting to burn for a special occasion. Tonight i had barracuda. i've had it twice before and have not liked it. but people have told me it is good, so i tried it again. It was like a tuna or shark steak, a little dry, but much better than the other 2 times i had it. i met a Jos who was sitting at the table next to me. another visitor from Holland (remember Peter from Holland from last year?) nice, sincere guy, has done a lot of travelling and shared some wonderful photos he took in Indonesia. i told him what i was doing and he said he may stop by tomorrow.